The United Kingdom sits at the top of the shortlist for Indian founders expanding abroad, and the reasons are historical as much as economic. A 1.9 million strong Indian diaspora, the largest of any European country, has already built a layered ecosystem of accountants, immigration solicitors, commercial bankers and venture capital investors who understand the specifics of cross-border Indo-British business. English is the native language, the legal system mirrors the common law framework Indian lawyers train under, and Companies House offers same-day online incorporation for as little as GBP 78 in 2026. For an Indian entrepreneur who has spent a career navigating the Registrar of Companies in Mumbai or the MCA portal in Delhi, the UK feels familiar in a way that Germany, France, or the Netherlands simply do not.
The commercial case strengthened further when the India-UK Free Trade Agreement was signed in mid-2025, locking in tariff cuts, professional mobility quotas and a long-awaited Double Contributions Convention. Add London's status as Europe's largest fintech and deep-tech hub, a corporation tax regime that tiers favourably for smaller companies, and an HMRC that is broadly digital-first, and the UK becomes not merely a convenient jurisdiction but a genuinely strategic one. This guide walks Indian founders through the visa pathway, the company structure choices, the real banking landscape, the tax treaty arithmetic, and the FEMA obligations back home that are often the most overlooked part of the entire exercise.
Why UK for Indian Founders
Indian founders typically weigh four jurisdictions when building an internationally credible holding or operating company. The UK's appeal is not that it wins on every metric, but that it is rarely last on any of them.
| Factor | United Kingdom | United States (Delaware) | UAE (DIFC/Mainland) | Singapore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incorporation speed | Same day online | 1-3 days | 2-4 weeks | 1-3 days |
| Incorporation cost | GBP 78 online | USD 300-800 | AED 15,000-50,000 | SGD 315 |
| Corporate tax | 19-25% tiered | 21% federal + state | 9% above AED 375K | 17% with rebates |
| Banking for Indian non-residents | Fintech accessible | Hard without SSN | Generally easy | Moderate, ICA needed |
| DTAA with India | Yes, 1993 updated | Yes, 1989 | Yes, 1992 | Yes, 1994 |
| Diaspora and professional network | 1.9M, deepest in Europe | 4.8M, very deep | 3.5M, largest worker base | 650K, business-dense |
| English-first regulator | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Visa complexity | Moderate | High | Low | Moderate |
For a founder selling services into Europe, a UK Ltd combined with a UAE or Singapore holding can be more efficient than the opposite configuration. The UK's treaty network, FCA-regulated payment rails and common-law predictability carry a premium that pure low-tax jurisdictions cannot replicate.
The UK is not the right answer for every Indian founder. If the entire business runs on Arabic Gulf clients and personal tax minimisation is the overriding goal, the UAE will win. If the company is a venture-funded tech startup whose investors sit in California, Delaware remains the default. But for SaaS firms targeting European corporates, professional services firms serving UK plc clients, fintechs needing credible regulatory standing, or family-run trading businesses that want a recognisable international face, the UK is almost always the strongest option. Learn more about the broader jurisdiction at /united-kingdom.
Visa and Residency Pathway
It is critical to separate two questions that Indian founders often conflate. The first is whether you can own and run a UK company from India, which you can do with no visa at all. The second is whether you can move to the UK to build and scale that company, which is where the immigration system enters.
Innovator Founder Visa. Introduced in April 2023, this route replaced both the Start-up and the old Innovator visa. The headline change is that the previous GBP 50,000 minimum investment requirement was abolished. In its place, applicants must secure an endorsement from a Home Office approved endorsing body confirming that the business idea is innovative, viable and scalable. The visa is granted for three years, permits secondary employment, and allows application for Indefinite Leave to Remain after three years if contact point checks are satisfied.
Global Talent Visa. For Indian founders with a track record in digital technology, science, engineering, medicine, or arts and culture, the Global Talent route is frequently the faster path. Endorsement is provided by Tech Nation (for digital technology), the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering or the British Academy. No job offer is required, there is no minimum salary, and settlement is possible after three years for Exceptional Talent applicants.
Skilled Worker Visa. If your UK Ltd has a sponsor licence, you can sponsor yourself or senior hires from India. The route demands a genuine vacancy at or above the going rate for the Standard Occupational Classification code, and as of 2026 the general salary threshold sits at GBP 38,700. Settlement follows after five years.
Non-resident director route. An Indian citizen can incorporate and direct a UK Ltd while remaining tax-resident in India. The company itself will be UK tax-resident if it is incorporated in the UK (and may also become so under central management and control tests). The director owes no UK personal income tax on non-UK duties performed, though any UK workdays create a PAYE exposure. Full treatment of visa options is available at /united-kingdom/visas-residency.
Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of continuous lawful residence (three years for Innovator Founder and Global Talent) converts a business visa into a permanent status, and British citizenship follows one year after ILR. For many Indian founders, this is the real prize rather than the tax rate.
Company Structure Options
The UK offers several legal forms, but more than 95% of Indian founders choose the private company limited by shares. The table below explains why.
| Structure | Minimum capital | Liability | Tax treatment | Best for Indian founders when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Limited Company (Ltd) | GBP 1 | Limited | Corporation tax 19-25% | Default choice for trading, SaaS, services |
| Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) | None | Limited | Tax-transparent, partners taxed | Professional services, India partners taking profit shares |
| Public Limited Company (PLC) | GBP 50,000 (25% paid) | Limited | Corporation tax | Planning AIM or Main Market listing |
| Sole Trader | None | Unlimited | Income tax on founder | Rarely appropriate for non-residents |
| UK Establishment (Branch) | None | Parent liable | UK tax on UK profits only | Extending an existing Indian Pvt Ltd |
The Ltd dominates for good reasons. It ring-fences liability at the UK level, shields the Indian parent or founder from UK litigation exposure, is tax-efficient up to GBP 250,000 of profit due to the small profits rate, and carries the international credibility of a Companies House registered entity with filed accounts visible to counterparties and banks.
A Person with Significant Control (PSC) register obligation applies to every UK company. Any individual holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or otherwise exercising significant influence, must be registered at Companies House. For an Indian founder who is the sole shareholder, this means your name, partial date of birth, nationality and service address become public record. Nominee arrangements do not exempt the ultimate beneficial owner from disclosure. A deeper comparison sits at /united-kingdom/company-formation.
Required Documents for Indian Nationals
One of the quiet advantages of the UK is that it does not demand apostilled documents for standard Ltd incorporation. Companies House accepts scanned copies of identity documents and a simple online declaration from the director.
The core document checklist for an Indian founder incorporating remotely:
- Valid Indian passport (bio page scan, colour)
- Proof of residential address in India dated within the last three months (bank statement, utility bill, rental agreement registered)
- Proposed UK company name check against the Companies House register
- Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code matching your primary activity (up to four codes permitted)
- Registered office address in the UK (can be a paid service provider from GBP 30 per year)
- Service address for each director (can match the registered office)
- Memorandum and Articles of Association (model articles accepted by default)
- Share capital structure, typically one ordinary share of GBP 1 at incorporation
- PSC declaration listing the beneficial owner
- Three pieces of personal identifying information for each director and PSC (town of birth, mother's maiden name, passport number, National Insurance number if any, telephone number)
SIC code selection deserves particular attention. Banks, HMRC and potential partners read SIC codes as a statement of intent. A software consultancy should sit under 62020, an online marketplace under 47910, a management consultancy under 70229. Misclassification at incorporation can trigger enhanced banking due diligence or complicate future VAT applications.
Step-by-Step UK Ltd Formation
- Name availability check. Search the Companies House WebCHeck to confirm the proposed name is not already in use and not too similar to an existing entity. Sensitive words (Bank, Royal, Institute, India, British) require additional permissions.
- Prepare documents and decisions. Confirm registered office provider, appoint at least one natural person director, draft share capital, identify PSCs, choose SIC codes, adopt model articles or custom articles.
- File IN01 online through Companies House. The same-day digital service costs GBP 78 in 2026 (raised from GBP 50 in May 2024) and typically returns a Certificate of Incorporation within 24 working hours. Standard postal incorporation is GBP 71 and takes 8-10 working days.
- Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC. Must be done within three months of commencing trading. This triggers creation of the Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) which HMRC posts to the registered office within two to three weeks.
- Set up Government Gateway and enrol for online filing. This single portal handles Corporation Tax, PAYE, VAT and the annual confirmation statement. Indian directors should set up two-factor authentication using a UK or international mobile.
- Register for VAT if turnover exceeds or is expected to exceed GBP 90,000 in any rolling 12-month period. Voluntary registration below threshold is often advisable for B2B trading companies reclaiming input VAT on professional fees.
The total timeline from document collection to usable Certificate of Incorporation is typically one to three business days for online filings, the fastest of any major Commonwealth or European jurisdiction. UTR issuance adds another two to three weeks before you can file returns, and VAT registration currently runs at 30 to 40 working days at HMRC.
Banking Realities for Indian Founders
Banking is where the theoretical simplicity of UK incorporation meets the operational friction of post-2020 anti money laundering enforcement. High-street banks have pulled back aggressively from remote onboarding of non-resident directors, and this is the single biggest surprise for Indian founders who completed incorporation in 48 hours and then spent four months trying to open an account.
| Bank/Provider | Onboarding | UK-resident director needed | Monthly cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barclays Business | Branch visit usually required | Effectively yes | GBP 8-12 | Established UK presence |
| HSBC Kinetic | App-based, UK address checks | One preferred | GBP 6.50 | India-UK corridor clients |
| Lloyds Business | Branch interview | Yes in practice | GBP 8.50 | Traditional UK trading |
| NatWest Business | Branch, enhanced DD for non-res | Yes in practice | GBP 8 | SME lending relationship |
| Tide | Fully online, 48-hour approval | No | Free tier available | Fast first account, non-resident friendly |
| Starling Business | Fully online, PSD2-regulated | No, but UK proof of address may be needed | Free | Genuine banking licence, FSCS-covered |
| Monzo Business | Fully online | Residency preferred | GBP 5 | UK-based founders |
| Wise Business | Fully online, multi-currency | No | Pay-per-use | GBP/INR/USD flows, international invoicing |
| Revolut Business | Fully online | No | From GBP 10 | Multi-currency, card issuing |
The practical sequence that works for most Indian founders in 2026: open a Wise Business or Tide account within the first week after incorporation to receive funds and pay suppliers, then apply to Starling or Monzo for a fuller banking relationship. Apply to a high-street bank only after the company has trading history, UK suppliers, and ideally a UK-resident director or accountant acting as a local contact.
A complete banking map for the jurisdiction is available at /united-kingdom/banking. Expect to provide proof of UK trading activity, contracts with UK counterparties, invoices, and sometimes an accountant's letter before a tier-one bank will complete onboarding.
India-UK DTAA
The India-United Kingdom Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, signed in 1993 and updated through protocols including the 2013 amendment, governs how business income, dividends, interest, royalties and capital gains are allocated between the two jurisdictions. For an Indian founder holding a UK Ltd, the practical numbers matter more than the treaty architecture.
Dividend withholding. The UK does not impose withholding tax on outbound dividends to non-UK shareholders under domestic law, so the DTAA cap of 10-15% is largely academic in the UK-to-India direction. Dividends paid to an Indian resident shareholder are taxed in India at slab rates with no underlying corporate tax credit for the UK corporation tax suffered (relief is available under section 90 for the DTAA cap only).
Interest. The DTAA caps withholding at 10-15% depending on the lender category. UK domestic interest withholding is 20% for cross-border payments, so the treaty rate genuinely applies and should be claimed via a Form DTTP application to HMRC.
Royalties. Capped at 10-15% under the DTAA. Critical for Indian founders licensing software, trademarks or content from a UK Ltd to an Indian operating company, or vice versa.
Capital gains. Subject to domestic law in the country of residence of the seller, with specific carve-outs for real estate rich companies. Indian residents selling shares of a UK Ltd are generally taxable only in India.
Tie-breaker. If you are dual-resident under domestic law, the treaty tie-breaker tests (permanent home, centre of vital interests, habitual abode, nationality, mutual agreement) determine single residence. Most Indian founders who spend under 183 days in the UK remain Indian tax residents.
The Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) provides dispute resolution for transfer pricing adjustments and double taxation conflicts. The competent authorities on both sides are active and a queue time of 18 to 24 months is typical. Full tax implications are detailed at /united-kingdom/corporate-tax.
India-UK FTA (2025)
The India-UK Free Trade Agreement, formally titled the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, was signed in mid-2025 after more than three years of negotiation. Its relevance to a company formation guide is indirect but substantial.
Tariff reductions. Progressive elimination of duties on approximately 90% of UK exports to India, including Scotch whisky tariffs falling from 150% to 75% immediately and to 40% over a decade, automotive tariffs reducing under quota, and medical device tariffs largely zero-rated. Indian exports to the UK benefit from liberalised apparel, leather, marine products and gems.
Services liberalisation. Commitments on cross-border supply and commercial presence in financial services, telecommunications, professional services and digital services. This is the chapter that most benefits UK Ltd companies run by Indian founders selling services into either market.
Professional mobility. A dedicated annex creates quotas for up to 1,800 Indian professionals per year across chefs, yoga instructors, musicians and contractual service suppliers on short-term assignments. This is additive to the Skilled Worker visa and does not replace it.
Double Contributions Convention. Indian professionals on UK assignments, and vice versa, are exempted from the host country's social security contributions for up to three years. UK employers of Indian secondees save the 15% employer National Insurance contribution, a material saving that changes the economics of inbound secondments.
Investment protections. Fair and equitable treatment, non-discrimination, and investor-state dispute settlement mechanics for qualifying investments.
The FTA does not create a shortcut to UK company formation. It does, however, shift the cost-benefit calculation for UK-India trade, making a UK Ltd sourcing from India or selling into India materially more competitive than it was in 2024.
Indian Regulatory Obligations
This is the section most Indian founders underweight and most Indian chartered accountants emphasise. Forming a UK company is simple; complying with Indian outbound rules is not.
FEMA ODI framework. Under the Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Rules 2022 and the RBI Master Direction on Overseas Investment, a resident individual can invest abroad via the Overseas Direct Investment route in an operating entity, or via the Overseas Portfolio Investment route in a non-operating entity. ODI in a UK Ltd where the investor has control requires Form FC filing through an AD Category-I bank before remittance.
Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Resident individuals are capped at USD 250,000 per financial year for all current and capital account transactions combined. This includes the ODI remittance, tuition fees abroad, travel and any other overseas expenditure. Exceeding the cap requires prior RBI approval.
Annual Performance Report. Every Indian resident who has made an ODI must file an APR through the AD bank by 31 December each year, disclosing the UK entity's financials, dividends received, and valuation.
Schedule FA in ITR. Indian tax residents must disclose all foreign assets including shares of the UK Ltd, foreign bank accounts, foreign beneficial interests and trusteeships in Schedule FA of the Income Tax Return. Non-disclosure carries penalties under the Black Money Act of INR 10 lakh per year regardless of tax liability.
Advance tax. Dividend income from the UK Ltd is taxable in India at slab rates and subject to advance tax in four instalments during the Indian financial year. DTAA credit for UK tax (if any) is claimed in the Indian return.
UK Corporate Tax for Indian Founders
UK corporation tax underwent a significant change in April 2023. The single 19% rate was replaced with a tiered system that rewards smaller companies and penalises larger ones. As of 2026:
- Main rate: 25% on profits above GBP 250,000
- Small profits rate: 19% on profits up to GBP 50,000
- Marginal relief applies between GBP 50,000 and GBP 250,000, producing an effective marginal rate of 26.5% in that band
Associated companies (broadly, companies under common control) share the thresholds, so a founder with an Indian Pvt Ltd and a UK Ltd under 100% common control will see the UK thresholds halved to GBP 25,000 and GBP 125,000.
VAT. Standard rate 20%, reduced rate 5%, zero-rate for exports and certain goods. Registration mandatory once taxable turnover exceeds GBP 90,000 rolling. Digital services to UK consumers by overseas providers follow special rules under the UK's post-Brexit OSS equivalent.
Comparison to India. Indian domestic companies pay 25% base rate (22% under the concessional regime for new manufacturing) plus surcharge and cess, bringing the effective rate to around 25-30%. The UK's 19% small profits rate is therefore meaningfully lower, making the UK attractive for routing SME-scale profits.
Real Cost Breakdown
The 2026 exchange rate of approximately 1 GBP = 104 INR is used below. All figures are indicative and exclude professional fees for complex restructurings.
| Item | GBP (2026) | INR equivalent | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Companies House online incorporation | 78 | 8,112 | One-off |
| Registered office service | 30-150 | 3,120-15,600 | Annual |
| Director service address | 25-80 | 2,600-8,320 | Annual |
| Confirmation statement filing fee | 34 | 3,536 | Annual |
| Accountant for year-end accounts (micro entity) | 600-1,200 | 62,400-124,800 | Annual |
| Accountant for trading Ltd (moderate complexity) | 1,200-2,500 | 124,800-260,000 | Annual |
| VAT registration filing (professional) | 150-350 | 15,600-36,400 | One-off |
| Corporation Tax return (CT600) | 400-900 | 41,600-93,600 | Annual |
| Business bank account (fintech) | 0-120 | 0-12,480 | Annual |
| UK director's payroll setup (if any) | 200-500 | 20,800-52,000 | One-off |
| First-year total, non-resident director, dormant to small trading | GBP 900-2,800 | INR 93,600-291,200 | First year |
Common Pitfalls Indian Founders Face
- Banking rejection. Assuming that same-day incorporation means same-week banking. Allocate four to ten weeks for a fintech account and three to six months for a high-street relationship.
- HMRC reporting burden. Underestimating the combined weight of Corporation Tax return, annual accounts, confirmation statement, PAYE real-time information, VAT quarterly returns and P11D benefits returns. Missing any of these triggers automatic penalties.
- VAT threshold surprise. Crossing GBP 90,000 of UK taxable turnover triggers mandatory registration from the first day of the following month, not from a future choice. Retroactive registration and output VAT on past invoices is painful.
- National Insurance for UK-resident directors. If you relocate to the UK under a visa and pay yourself a salary, employer NI at 15% and employee NI at 8% combine to make dividends materially more tax-efficient than salary above the GBP 12,570 personal allowance.
- Confirmation statement deadline. Annual filing at the anniversary of incorporation. A day late means the company risks being struck off and the PSC public record marked delinquent, which banks check.
- FEMA ODI non-compliance. Remitting equity capital from India without Form FC through the AD bank is a contravention under FEMA and requires compounding with the RBI. Penalty plus professional fees typically run to INR 2-5 lakh even when the underlying transaction is legitimate.
- Schedule FA omission. Forgetting to disclose the UK Ltd shares and any UK bank accounts in the Indian ITR. The Black Money Act penalty is INR 10 lakh per year regardless of tax impact.
Verdict
The UK is the right jurisdiction for an Indian founder when the business sells professional services, software, content or financial products in English-speaking B2B markets; when European customers expect a European counterparty but EU member state complexity is unattractive; when fintech or regulated financial activity is in scope and FCA standing matters; when a credible, scrutiny-ready corporate face is needed for institutional clients; and when the founder values a potential path to UK settlement and eventual British citizenship.
The UK is the wrong jurisdiction when the business is primarily Gulf-facing and tax minimisation is the decisive factor (choose UAE), when venture capital is the only capital source and investors insist on Delaware C-Corp (choose US), when Southeast Asian expansion is the primary geography (choose Singapore), or when the founder wants a low-administration holding vehicle without trading activity (choose UAE free zone or Singapore holding).
For the sizeable middle ground of Indian entrepreneurs building internationally credible, English-speaking, moderately regulated businesses, the UK in 2026 is difficult to beat. Same-day incorporation, the small profits corporation tax rate, a deep Indian diaspora professional network, a functioning DTAA, and the newly-signed India-UK FTA combine into a package that few jurisdictions can match. The banking friction and compliance calendar are real costs, but they are known costs, and they are the price of the credibility that the UK confers on the founder who undertakes them.
FAQ
Can an Indian citizen form a UK Ltd without living in the UK? Yes. There is no residency or nationality requirement for directors or shareholders of a UK private limited company. The practical constraints appear later, primarily at the banking onboarding stage.
Do I need FEMA/RBI approval from India before incorporating? Yes if you are remitting equity capital from India. The ODI route under the 2022 FEMA Overseas Investment Rules requires Form FC filing via your AD Category-I bank, and annual APR and Schedule FA compliance thereafter.
What is the Innovator Founder Visa? The post-April 2023 replacement for both the Start-up and Innovator routes. Requires endorsement from a Home Office approved body confirming innovation, viability and scalability. The previous GBP 50,000 minimum investment was removed. Settlement possible after three years.
How much does the India-UK FTA save my business? Directly, the Double Contributions Convention saves 15% employer National Insurance on Indian secondees for up to three years. Indirectly, lower tariffs and liberalised services rules reduce the cost of UK-India trade, and the professional mobility quota adds up to 1,800 specialist visa slots per year.
What is the UK corporation tax rate for a UK Ltd? 19% on profits up to GBP 50,000, 25% above GBP 250,000, marginal relief in between. Associated companies share the thresholds, so an Indian Pvt Ltd under common control halves them.
Will a UK bank open an account for a non-resident Indian director? Fintechs including Tide, Starling, Monzo, Wise Business and Revolut Business open accounts fully online. High-street banks generally require a UK-resident director or an in-person branch visit and trading history before onboarding.
Related Corpy Resources
- United Kingdom business guide for a full overview of doing business in United Kingdom
- Company formation in United Kingdom for related articles on this topic
- Corporate tax in United Kingdom to explore adjacent considerations
- Business laws in United Kingdom to explore adjacent considerations
- Free zones in United Kingdom to explore adjacent considerations
References
- UK Companies House. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house
- Companies Act 2006. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/contents
- UK Intellectual Property Office. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office
- OECD Inclusive Framework on BEPS. https://www.oecd.org/tax/beps/
- World Bank Doing Business Archive. https://archive.doingbusiness.org/
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Indian citizen form a UK Ltd without living in the UK?
Yes. UK company law imposes no residency or nationality requirement on directors or shareholders of a private limited company. An Indian resident can incorporate a UK Ltd entirely online through Companies House, own 100% of the shares, and act as sole director without ever setting foot in the United Kingdom. The practical constraints emerge later at the banking stage and in relation to UK tax residence of the company.
Do I need FEMA/RBI approval from India before incorporating a UK company?
If you are a resident individual investing equity into the UK entity, the remittance falls under the RBI Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) capped at USD 250,000 per financial year, with Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) rules applying once the foreign entity is controlled. Form FC is filed through your AD Category-I bank, and annual APR reporting plus Schedule FA disclosure in your Indian tax return are mandatory.
What is the Innovator Founder Visa and is the £50,000 still required?
The Innovator Founder Visa replaced both the Start-up and old Innovator routes in April 2023. It requires an endorsement from a Home Office approved endorsing body confirming your business is innovative, viable and scalable. The previous £50,000 minimum investment requirement was removed, though applicants must still show they can support themselves. The route leads to settlement after three years.
How does the India-UK FTA signed in 2025 affect Indian entrepreneurs?
The agreement reduces tariffs on goods, liberalises cross-border services, secures a Double Contributions Convention exempting Indian professionals on UK assignments from UK National Insurance for up to three years, and creates a professional mobility quota of up to 1,800 Indian specialists annually in chefs, yoga instructors and contractual service suppliers. It does not create a company formation shortcut but lowers the overall cost of doing business between the two jurisdictions.
What is the corporation tax rate for a UK Ltd owned by an Indian founder?
UK corporation tax is 25 percent main rate on profits above GBP 250,000, with a 19 percent small profits rate for profits up to GBP 50,000 and marginal relief tapering in between. Dividends paid to a non-UK resident Indian shareholder generally attract zero UK withholding, though India will tax the receipt under domestic rules and the DTAA.
Will a UK high-street bank open an account for an Indian director living in India?
Most high-street banks including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest have tightened KYC since 2020 and typically require at least one UK-resident director or an in-person branch visit. UK-licensed fintechs such as Tide, Starling, Monzo Business, Wise Business and Revolut Business open accounts fully online for non-resident directors, though each has its own onboarding and address verification criteria.